---
name: "David Strathairn"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-strathairn"
fi1m_id: "david-strathairn"
imdb_id: "nm0000657"
tmdb_id: 11064
wikidata_id: "Q310318"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "26 January 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 16
average_fi1m_score: 70
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 16
updated: "2026-10-04T23:01:33.403396+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David Strathairn

## Identity

David Strathairn

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-strathairn
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-strathairn
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000657
- **TMDB ID:** 11064
- **Wikidata ID:** Q310318
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Strathairn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310318, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000657/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11064

Actor. Born 26 January 1949 in San Francisco, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 26 January 1949, San Francisco, California, USA
- **Active:** 1992–present
- **Also known as:** David Russell Strathairn
- **Frequently works with:** [Frank Marshall](https://film.one/person/frank-marshall.md), [Patrick Crowley](https://film.one/person/patrick-crowley.md), [Tony Gilroy](https://film.one/person/tony-gilroy.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 70, as actor, over 16 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 80 (3), 2000s 84 (2), 2010s 63 (6), 2020s 69 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 70 to 69 across 16 titles
- **Score spread:** 6 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 2 of 13 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 11, Thriller 5, Action 4, Comedy 4, Crime 4, History 4
- **Screen time:** 31 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $4,684m across 15 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Strathairn, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q310318, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000657/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/11064

## Streaming the US now

- **Apple TV:** [*The Bourne Ultimatum*](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-ultimatum.md) (85), [*Godzilla*](https://film.one/film/godzilla-2014.md) (68), [*The Bourne Legacy*](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-legacy.md) (54)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Firm*](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md) (71), [*Godzilla: King of the Monsters*](https://film.one/film/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters.md) (48)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*L.A. Confidential*](https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential.md) (88)
- **Netflix:** [*Nomadland*](https://film.one/film/nomadland.md) (83)
- **Disney+:** [*Zootopia 2*](https://film.one/film/zootopia-2.md) (70)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on David Strathairn

> David Strathairn can make a calculating man sound entirely reasonable, which is one reason we rate him. His restrained delivery gives supporting characters weight, though it cannot supply a personality the script has left out.

Pierce Patchett is suave in *L.A. Confidential* (1997), and David Strathairn makes that suavity troubling. He plays the calculating criminal without making a separate display of his wickedness. The understated delivery suits a man who has no need to advertise what he is capable of. We rate Strathairn for that restraint: he lets us consider why someone might listen to Patchett, rather than merely waiting for the next indication that he is bad.

His independent work with John Sayles began with *Return of the Secaucus 7* (1980) and continued through the 1990s. Supporting parts in studio films followed, but *L.A. Confidential* does not feel like a case of an actor waiting to be promoted to the lead. Curtis Hanson has a persuasive ensemble, and Strathairn's contribution belongs within it. There is pleasure in watching him do a supporting job properly, without treating it as a small one.

The lead as Edward R. Murrow in *Good Night, and Good Luck* (2005) brought wider notice, and gave his restraint more room. The care with period detail and the sense of journalistic integrity make this a useful companion to Patchett: the same quiet authority can serve a decent man. He subsequently mixed independent work with supporting parts, including William Seward in Steven Spielberg's *Lincoln* (2012).

*Zootopia 2* (2025) exposes the limit. As the voice of Milton Lynxley, Strathairn is given plenty to say, but little that makes the character distinct; Andy Samberg's Pawbert has the same problem. We grew impatient with the explanations because neither Lynxley became more interesting as the mystery grew busier. The film is often funny and worth an evening, but Milton is a reminder that an actor known for understatement still needs something specific to play. For a first encounter with Strathairn, we would choose *L.A. Confidential*.

## Biography

David Russell Strathairn is an American actor. He was born on 26 January 1949 in San Francisco, California, and studied at Williams College.

Strathairn made his screen debut in John Sayles' *Return of the Secaucus 7* (1980) and has appeared in several of the director's subsequent films. He received an Academy Award nomination for his leading role as Edward R. Murrow in *Good Night, and Good Luck* (2005). Other notable film credits include *L.A. Confidential* (1997), *The Bourne Ultimatum* (2007), *Lincoln* (2012), *Godzilla* (2014) and *Nomadland* (2020).

On television he won a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance in the HBO film *Temple Grandin* (2010) and has appeared in series including *The Blacklist* and *The Expanse*. He voices Milton Lynxley in the animated feature *Zootopia 2* (2025).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, screenrant.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (16)

- *By Any Means* (2026), Fi1m 52, as Special Agent Roy K. Moore — [page](https://film.one/film/by-any-means.md)
- *Zootopia 2* (2025), Fi1m 70, as Milton Lynxley (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/zootopia-2.md)
- *A Man on the Inside* (2024), Fi1m 72, as Dr. Benjamin Cole — [page](https://film.one/tv/a-man-on-the-inside.md)
- *Nightmare Alley* (2021), Fi1m 66, as Pete — [page](https://film.one/film/nightmare-alley-2021.md)
- *Nomadland* (2021), Fi1m 83, as Dave — [page](https://film.one/film/nomadland.md)
- *Godzilla: King of the Monsters* (2019), Fi1m 48, as Admiral William Stenz — [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters.md)
- *Darkest Hour* (2017), Fi1m 66, as President Roosevelt (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/darkest-hour.md)
- *The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2015), Fi1m 58, as Ty Burley — [page](https://film.one/film/the-second-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md)
- *Godzilla* (2014), Fi1m 68, as Admiral William Stenz — [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-2014.md)
- *Lincoln* (2012), Fi1m 82, as William Seward — [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *The Bourne Legacy* (2012), Fi1m 54, as Noah Vosen — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-legacy.md)
- *The Bourne Ultimatum* (2007), Fi1m 85, as Noah Vosen — [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-ultimatum.md)
- *Good Night, and Good Luck.* (2005), Fi1m 83, as Edward R. Murrow — [page](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck.md)
- *L.A. Confidential* (1997), Fi1m 88, as Pierce Patchett — [page](https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential.md)
- *The Firm* (1993), Fi1m 71, as Ray McDeere — [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md)
- *A League of Their Own* (1992), Fi1m 80, as Ira Lowenstein — [page](https://film.one/film/a-league-of-their-own.md)

## Complete filmography (144)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Babies* (2026), as Michael
- *By Any Means* (2026), as Special Agent Roy K. Moore — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/by-any-means.md)
- *O Horizon* (2026), as Warren
- *Stages* (2026), as Porter Gates
- *CIA* (2026), series, as Sanford 'Sandy' Harrison
- *Zootopia 2* (2025), as Milton Lynxley (voice) — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/zootopia-2.md)
- *The Gettysburg Address* (2025), as Ralph Waldo Emerson (voice)
- *A Little Prayer* (2025), as Bill
- *The Luckiest Man in America* (2025), as Bill
- *A Man on the Inside* (2024), series, as Dr. Benjamin Cole — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/a-man-on-the-inside.md)
- *Remember This* (2023), as Jan Karski
- *Where the Crawdads Sing* (2022), as Tom Milton
- *Nightmare Alley* (2021), as Pete — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/nightmare-alley-2021.md)
- *Nomadland* (2021), as Dave — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/nomadland.md)
- *The Oedipus Project* (2020), as Messenger 1
- *Walkaway Joe* (2020), as Joe Haley
- *Interrogation* (2020), series, as Henry Fisher
- *The Devil Has a Name* (2019), as Fred Stern
- *Godzilla: King of the Monsters* (2019), as Admiral William Stenz — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-king-of-the-monsters.md)
- *Fast Color* (2019), as Ellis
- *My Dinner with Hervé* (2018), as Marty Rothstein
- *UFO* (2018), as Franklin Ahls
- *An Interview with God* (2018), as God
- *McMafia* (2018), series, as Semiyon Kleiman
- *Darkest Hour* (2017), as President Roosevelt (voice) — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/darkest-hour.md)
- *November Criminals* (2017), as Theo
- *American Pastoral* (2016), as Nathan Zuckerman
- *He Does Not Want Peace* (2016), as Richard Englebright
- *Billions* (2016), series, as Black Jack Foley
- *The Expanse* (2015), series, as Commander Klaes Ashford, Klaes Ashford — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-expanse.md)
- *Z: The Beginning of Everything* (2015), series, as Anthony Sayre
- *Z: The Beginning of Everything* (2015), as Judge Anthony Sayre
- *Louder Than Bombs* (2015), as Richard Weissman
- *The Debt* (2015), as Nathan
- *The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel* (2015), as Ty Burley — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/the-second-best-exotic-marigold-hotel.md)
- *Godzilla* (2014), as Admiral William Stenz — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/godzilla-2014.md)
- *No God, No Master* (2014), as William Flynn
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as Peter Kotsiopulos — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Lincoln* (2012), as William Seward — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/lincoln.md)
- *Hemingway & Gellhorn* (2012), as John Dos Passos
- *The Bourne Legacy* (2012), as Noah Vosen — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-legacy.md)
- *Maladies* (2012), as Delmar
- *Alphas* (2011), series, as Lee Rosen
- *The Whistleblower* (2010), as Peter Ward
- *The Tempest* (2010), as King Alonso
- *Howl* (2010), as Ralph McIntosh
- *Inside Area 51's Secrets* (2010), as Narrator
- *Temple Grandin* (2010), as Professor Carlock
- *Matadors* (2010), as Roman Lodari
- *Cold Souls* (2009), as Dr. Flintstein
- *The Uninvited* (2009), as Steven
- *The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer* (2008), as J. Robert Oppenheimer
- *The Spiderwick Chronicles* (2008), as Arthur Spiderwick
- *My Blueberry Nights* (2007), as Arnie
- *Matters of Life and Death* (2007), as Mr. Jennings
- *The Bourne Ultimatum* (2007), as Noah Vosen — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-bourne-ultimatum.md)
- *Racing Daylight* (2007), as Henry / Harry
- *Steel Toes* (2007), as Danny Dunkelman
- *Fracture* (2007), as Joe Lobruto
- *The Supreme Court* (2007), as Narrator
- *We Are Marshall* (2006), as President Dedmon
- *The Sensation of Sight* (2006), as Finn · Producer
- *Heavens Fall* (2006), as Judge James Horton
- *The Human Behavior Experiments* (2006), as Narrator
- *The Shovel* (2006), as Paul Mullin
- *The Notorious Bettie Page* (2006), as Estes Kefauver
- *Good Night, and Good Luck.* (2005), as Edward R. Murrow — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/good-night-and-good-luck.md)
- *Willa Cather: The Road Is All* (2005), as Narrator
- *Missing in America* (2005), as Henry R. Hocknell Jr.
- *House* (2004), series, as Nash — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/house-2004.md)
- *Twisted* (2004), as Dr. Melvin Frank
- *Paradise* (2004), as Reverend Bobby Paradise
- *Blue Car* (2003), as Auster
- *Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story* (2002), as Jack Hoschouer
- *Master Spy: The Robert Hanssen Story* (2002), series, as Jack Hoschouer
- *Lathe of Heaven* (2002), as Mannie
- *Monk* (2002), series, as Patrick Kloster
- *Speakeasy* (2002), as Bruce Hickman
- *Relative Evil* (2001), as Dr. Charlie
- *Big Apple* (2001), series, as Will Preecher
- *The Victim* (2001), as Mark Zingerline
- *A Good Baby* (2000), as Truman Lester
- *The Miracle Worker* (2000), as Captain Keller
- *Harrison's Flowers* (2000), as Harrison Lloyd
- *Freedom Song* (2000), as Peter Crowley
- *A Map of the World* (1999), as Howard Goodwin
- *Limbo* (1999), as Joe Gastineau
- *A Midsummer Night's Dream* (1999), as Theseus
- *The Giraffe* (1999), as Charles Kaminski
- *The Sopranos* (1999), series, as Robert Wegler — Fi1m 94, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-sopranos.md)
- *Bad Manners* (1998), as Wes Westlund
- *Simon Birch* (1998), as Reverend Russell
- *With Friends Like These* (1998), as Armand Minetti
- *Evidence of Blood* (1998), as Jackson Kinley
- *The Climb* (1998), as Earl Himes
- *L.A. Confidential* (1997), as Pierce Patchett — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/l-a-confidential.md)
- *Song of Hiawatha* (1997), as Marcel
- *In the Gloaming* (1997), as Martin
- *Mother Night* (1996), as Bernard B. O'Hare
- *Beyond the Call* (1996), as Russel Gates
- *Home for the Holidays* (1995), as Russell Terziak
- *Dolores Claiborne* (1995), as Joe St. George
- *Losing Isaiah* (1995), as Charles Lewin
- *The River Wild* (1994), as Tom Hartman
- *April One* (1994), as John McCowan
- *A Dangerous Woman* (1993), as Getso
- *The Firm* (1993), as Ray McDeere — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-firm.md)
- *Lost in Yonkers* (1993), as Johnny
- *The American Clock* (1993), as Young Arthur Huntington
- *Passion Fish* (1992), as Rennie
- *Sneakers* (1992), as Whistler
- *Bob Roberts* (1992), as Mack Laflin
- *A League of Their Own* (1992), as Ira Lowenstein — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/a-league-of-their-own.md)
- *Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even* (1992), as Keith
- *O Pioneers!* (1992), as Carl Linstrum
- *City of Hope* (1991), as Asteroid
- *Without Warning: The James Brady Story* (1991), as Dr. Arthur Kobrine
- *Judgment* (1990), as Father Frank Aubert
- *Memphis Belle* (1990), as Craig Harriman
- *Heat Wave* (1990), as Bill Thomas
- *The Feud* (1989), as The Stranger
- *Day One* (1989), as J. Robert Oppenheimer
- *Eight Men Out* (1988), as Eddie Cicotte
- *Call Me* (1988), as Sam
- *Dominick and Eugene* (1988), as Martin Chernak
- *Stars & Bars* (1988), as Charlie
- *Wiseguy* (1987), series, Actor
- *Matewan* (1987), as Police Chief Sid Hatfield
- *The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd* (1987), series, as Moss Goodman
- *Broken Vows* (1987), as Stuart Chase
- *At Close Range* (1986), as Tony Pine
- *Spenser: For Hire* (1985), series, Actor
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Phillip Borchek
- *When Nature Calls* (1985), as Weejun
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Marty Lang — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *The Brother from Another Planet* (1984), as Man In Black
- *Iceman* (1984), as Dr. Singe
- *Silkwood* (1983), as Wesley
- *Lovesick* (1983), as Marvin Zuckerman
- *Enormous Changes at the Last Minute* (1983), as Jerry
- *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Carl Linstrum, The Stranger
- *Return of the Secaucus Seven* (1980), as Ron
- *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Carl Linstrum
- *The Bard*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Photo By: Frank Schramm (2022)](https://film.one/media/person/7623/gallery-4e90ca8479d0.jpg) Photo By: Frank Schramm (2022) — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/David_Strathairn_%2852490699689%29.jpg/1280px-David_Strathairn_%2852490699689%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Strathairn at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con](https://film.one/media/person/7623/gallery-5c1a53e89162.jpg) David Strathairn at the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con — Keith McDuffee from Northborough, MA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/David_Strathairn_%285974348391%29.jpg/1280px-David_Strathairn_%285974348391%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Strathairn](https://film.one/media/person/7623/gallery-79fd2bbff1e5.jpg) David Strathairn — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/David_Strathairn_2022.jpg/1280px-David_Strathairn_2022.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![David Strathairn](https://film.one/media/person/7623/gallery-22a6b666a50c.jpg) David Strathairn — Image via TMDB
- ![David Strathairn](https://film.one/media/person/7623/gallery-d605b1a991c7.jpg) David Strathairn — Image via TMDB
- ![David Strathairn](https://film.one/media/person/7623/gallery-b2170835c95b.jpg) David Strathairn — Image via TMDB
- ![David Strathairn](https://film.one/media/person/7623/gallery-3db277e08db6.jpg) David Strathairn — Image via TMDB
- ![David Strathairn](https://film.one/media/person/7623/gallery-65401720f661.jpg) David Strathairn — Image via TMDB
- ![David Strathairn](https://film.one/media/person/7623/gallery-a66aacfbd710.jpg) David Strathairn — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2006: Best Actor (nominated), for *Good Night, and Good Luck.*

### BAFTA Film Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2006: Best Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Good Night, and Good Luck.*

### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2005: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (nominated), for *Good Night, and Good Luck.*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 2012: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (nominated), for *Hemingway & Gellhorn*
- 2010: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Temple Grandin*

### SAG Awards — 0 won, 4 nominated

- 2013: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *Lincoln*
- 2006: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *Good Night, and Good Luck.*
- 2006: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (nominated), for *Good Night, and Good Luck.*
- 1998: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (nominated), for *L.A. Confidential*

### Other awards — 2 won, 5 nominated

- Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film 2010: Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film (won), for *Temple Grandin*
- Independent Spirit Awards 2006: Best Male Lead (nominated), for *Good Night, and Good Luck.*
- Critics' Choice Awards 2005: Best Actor (nominated), for *Good Night, and Good Luck.*
- Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture 2005: Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture (nominated), for *Good Night, and Good Luck.*
- Independent Spirit Awards 2000: Best Male Lead (nominated), for *Limbo*
- Independent Spirit Awards 1993: Best Supporting Male (nominated), for *Passion Fish*
- Independent Spirit Awards 1992: Best Supporting Male (won), for *City of Hope*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-strathairn